Without coming right out and saying it, Dr. Nestle implies her interest in the tax with several related posts.

President Obama: "It's an idea that we should be exploring," the President said. "There's no doubt that our kids drink way too much soda. And every study that's been done about obesity shows that there is as high a correlation between increased soda consumption and obesity as just about anything else. Obviously there is resistance on Capitol Hill to those kinds of sin taxes," he continued. "Legislators from certain states that produce sugar or corn syrup are sensitive to anything that might reduce demand for those products. And look, people's attitude is that they don't necessarily want Big Brother telling them what to eat or drink, and I understand that. It is true, though, that if you wanted to make a big impact on people's health in this country, reducing things like soda consumption would be helpful." — President Barack Obama to Men’s Health

The ABA has this to say about the tax, "Families are still barely making it from paycheck to paycheck. Adding to their burden with a tax on their groceries should be the last way to tackle the state's budget problems." I think they need a heftier argument. Since when have sugary beverages become a staple of Americans' groceries? They go on to say, "...this tax will threaten thousands of well-paying, New York jobs in the beverage and related industries." Lack of jobs in New York? I can only hope that there would be a lack of jobs in the sugary beverage industry and other junk food industries!

Let's see, who has our best interest in mind: doctors, professors, and directors of major health agencies......or beverage companies?

8 comments:

A soda tax would be very interesting. They could use some of the money to educate people about how bad it is for you (like with tobacco), use some to replace revenue of removing soda machines from schools, and help with rising obesity related health costs.

But, I agree, the beverage industry really has no argument there. No one has to have sodas. It could force them to make healthier drinks that wouldn't be taxed.

Though, I suspect as it is with tobacco, there will still be lots of people who still buy them regardless of the price.

This is a free country, but that doesn't mean we aren't taxed for things. By taxing soda it will give money to organizations that educate others (namely, children) about obesity which is a good thing. This is like a cigarette tax or alcohol tax.